Pouring attachment for paint cans and the like



Nov. 17, 1953 J. w. ALLEN 2,659,519

POURING ATTACHMENT FOR PAINT CANS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. '7, 1952 JOIVV W 1914 [/V ATTO/P/VFFS Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE POURING ATTACHMENT FOR PAINT CANS AND THE LIKE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a pouring attachment for paint cans and thelike and particularly to an improved device of this character which isdetachably mountable within the rim of a paint can and similarcontainers.

It is well known that it is difiicult to pour relatively heavy bodiedliquid material, such as paint, from cans and containers in which thematerial is stored. During the pouring operation, some of the liquidmaterial runs down the outside of the can not only causing wastage ofthis material but leaving an unsightly residue on the outside of the canwhich usually smears the hands of the operator or painter holding thecan. v

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved pouringattachment for paint cans and similar types of containers which isdesigned in a novel manner for interfittin sealing engagement with therim of a paint can and which in the assembled position thereon willconveniently assist in the pouring of the contents of the can. Anotherimportant object of the invention is to provide a pouring attachment forpaint cans and the like which is constructed in a novel manner totightly grip the rim of a can and hold the contents thereof regardlessof the extent the can is tilted. A further important object of theinvention is to provide an attachment of his character having noveladjusted means which not only causes the attachment to tightly grip therim of a paint can or the like but also sealingly engages the rim insuch a manner that during the pouring operation any loss or leakage ofthe contents down the outside of the ing a pouring attachment of thepresent invention mounted within the rim of the can;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view taken alongline 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken along line 3-3of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a, top plan view of a paint can showing a modified form ofpouring attachment therein constructed in accordance with thisinvention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken along line 5-5of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view taken along line 66 of Fig. 5.

There is illustrated in the drawing two embodiments of the invention.The first embodiment is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and in thisform of the invention it i shown as being com posed wholly of metallicparts. The attachment comprises a ring-shaped member generally indicatedat It which is of a size to be received with n the rim of a paint canand lie within the plane thereof. It is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 asmounted within the upper portion or rim of a paint can. The side wall ofthe can is indicated at [2 and as in the usual practice it is shown ascylindrical in formation. The upper edge of the wall I 2 carries aninwardly projecting annularly shaped rim M, as in the conventionalconstruction of paint cans. The outer marginal portion of the rim isfolded or lapped over the upper edge of the Wall [2 as indicatedat Hi.The balance of the rim I4 is usually shaped with an upwardly openingrecess or channel IS, the inner marginal portion thereof being foldedover, as indicated at 20 to form a bead located in a plane usuallyslightly below the upper edge of the wall [2. The ring shaped member ll!of the attachment is capable of lying within the inner marginal portionof th rim [4 and to be radially expanded into gripping engagementthereof in the manner hereinafter described.

The ring shaped member ID is preferably composed of two segmentalportions joined together at their ends. One segmental portion is in theform of a flexible band 22, preferably of metallic material such asclock spring stock. Forming part of the band 22 and either constitutingan integral part thereof or being secured thereto is a pouring lip 24.The pouring lip has a curvature conforming to that of the band 22 and,in mounted position of the device within the rim of a paint can, the lip24 projects upwardly and outwardly therefrom as is evident in Figs. 1and 2. The pouring lip may be substantially semi-circular in formationas illustrated in Fig. 1 so as to overlie approximately half of the rimM of the paint can in which the devic is mounted. The band 22, however,is preferably designed so that it ex-' tends beyond the terminating endsof the pouring lip. As shown in Fig. 1, these extensions of the band areindicated at 26--2B.

The two outer end extensions 26- 26 of the band 22 overlap upon and aresecured to the outer ends of the opposite segmental portion of theattachment. This portion is indicated by the reference character 28 andis preferably composed of relatively rigid material having little or noflexibility. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and3, the portion 28 constitutes a metallic strap bent into the formationof a U as shown in Fig. 1 and consisting of comparatively thickermaterial than the more flexible band 22. Such metallic stra may beformed from sheet metal stock bent to the desired formation. The outerends of the metallic strap 28 are secured to the overlapping sections2626 of the flexible band 22 to complete the ring shaped formation ofthe member [0.

One form of such securement is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 andcomprises laterally projecting portions or tongues integrally connectedto the metallic strap 28 and folded around the extensions 2626 of theband. One such tongue is illustrated in Fig. 2 at 30. Initially thistongue projected outwardly from the upper edge of the strap 28 but isshown as being folded down around one of the extensions 2626 of theflexible band 22 to grip the same. Another securing tongue is associatedwith each extension 26 and is indicated at 32 in Fig. 2. Initially thistongue projected downwardly from the lower edge of the strap 28 but isshown as being folded upwardly to embrace and clamp the extensiontherebetween. It is therefore evident that each extension 26 isclampingly secured to the adjacent outer end section of the metallicstrap 28.

Carried by each outer extremity of the metallic strap 28 is a thirdtongue 34. Each of the tongues 34 initially projected upwardly from theupper edge of the metallic strap but as shown is bent approximately 90to lie in an outwardly projecting horizontal plane. The two tongues34-34 are disposed on diametrically opposite sides of the ring shapedmember ID and serve .as rests for engaging the rim M to assist insupporting the member therewithin.

The attachment carries means which is engageable with the rim of thepaint can or other container within which it is mounted and is capableof reacting therewith to tightly grip the member to the rim 14 of thecan. For this purpose, the embodiment of the invention 11- lustrated inFigs. 1, 2 and 3 is provided with an elongated tubular body 36 securedat one end to approximately the mid portion of the metallic strap 28 andprojecting outwardly therefrom and vin substantially radial alignmentwith the center of the ring shaped member [0. This tubular body extendsover the rim l4 and projects beyond the wall [2 of the paint can orother container in which the attachment is mounted. To dispose thetubular member 36 for such mounting it is secured to the attachment in aplane above and oiTset to that of the ring shaped member III, asillustrated in Fig. 2. To secure the body 36 in this offset relationshipto the ring shaped member, the metallic strap 28 is provided with anupwardly projecting portion 38 at approximately its mid section as shownin Fig. 3. The inner end of the tubular member 36 is secured to theupwardly projecting portion 38 in any suitable manner such as a weldingjoint 40 illustrated in Fig. 2.

Forming part of the tubular member 36 and shiftable longitudinallytherealong is a member which is capable of engaging the adjacent portionof the rim I4 in which the attachment is mounted. Such a member isindicated at 42 in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs.1, 2 and 3. The member depends downwardly from the tubular body 36through a longitudinal slot 44 formed therein. The slot 44 may extendthe full length of the tubular member 36 as shown in Fig. 2.

The member 42 is adjusted lengthwise of the tubular body 36 by means"which may consist, as shown in Fig. 2, of an externally threaded stem orscrew 46. The screw 46 is journaled for rotation on the axis of thetubular body 36. One end of the screw, such as the head end 48, isjoumaled into the upwardly projecting portion 38. of the metallic strap28. The opposite end of the screw is received in and secured to a knob50. The major portion of the knob 50 lies beyond the outer end of thetubular bod 36 and may be knurled to facilitate turning thereof. Theknob is provided with an inwardly projecting reduced extension 52 of asize to rotationally flt the interior 'of the body 36 and thus form ajournal mounting for the outer end of the screw The downwardly dependingmember 42'has a widened upper end portion 64 which encircles the screw46. The inner periphery of the widened portion 54 is internally threadedfor threaded engagement with the screw 46. The opposite or lower end ofthe member 42 is widened as at 56 to form a shoe for engaging the rim l4of the paint can. Between these upper and lower widened portions themember 42 is relatively narrow in width as shown in Fig. 3, and extendsthrough the slot 44 of the tubular body. The onposite side walls of theslot 44 form stops preventing the rotation of the member 42. It is thusevident that upon rotation of the knob 56 and the screw 46 the member 42will be caused to travel along the screw either outwardly or.inwardly ofthe paint can depending upon the direction of rotationof the screw.Preferably, the member 42 is of such a length and so formed that itdisposes its shoe portion 56 below the bead 20 of the rim l4 in order toabut the inner side wall of the channel l8 of the rim in the mannershown in Fig. 2.

In the operation of the device, the depending member 42 is adjustedalong the screw 46 so that the ring shaped member in may be fitted intothe rim of a paint can and lie within the plane thereof. The twooutwardly extending tongues 34-34, the pouring lip 24, and the tubularbody 36 together constitute laterally projecting portions for bearingupon the rim of the paint can to support the device in proper positiontherewithin. After the device is thus mounted, the knob 50 is rotated inthe direction to cause the depending member 42 to travel outwardly alongthe threads of the screw 46 bringing the shoe 56 into abut ment with thechannel 18 of the paint can rim. Further continued rotation of the knobafter such abutment will cause the member 42 to react with the rim ofthe can and urge the metallic strap 28 inwardly toward the center of therim of. the paint can forcing the flexible band 22 tightly against theadjacent portion of the rim. Being flexible, the band 22 will beradially expanded by continued rotation of the knob 50 into grippingengagement with the rim forming a liquid tight seal therewith under thepouring lip 24. In this manner, the device is tightly gripped to the rimof the paint can and thereby prevented from accidental dislodgementtherefrom regardless of the extent of the tilt of the can} When the canis tilted for pouring the contents therefrom, all of the liquiddischarged from the can will flow over the lip 24 and without any of itleaking or spilling upon the outer sides of the wall l2 of the can.

In modification illustrated in Figs, 4, 5 and 6, the pouring attachmentoperates in a manner similar to the device previously described but isconstructed in part of different elements and different materials. Thepouring end of the attachment is like the previously describedembodiment of the invention and comprises a flexible metallic band 58 ofclock spring stock or like material to which is secured a pouring lip60. The ends of the band 58 project beyond the terminating ends of thepouring lip as shown in Fig. 4. The band 58 is supported by theextremities of a U-shaped frame member 62 composed of relatively rigidmaterial. Fixed to the frame member is an elongated relatively rigidbody 64 corresponding in function to the tubular member 36 previouslydescribed. The frame member and the body are both composed of plasticmaterial molded or otherwise formed to the shape exhibited in Figs. 4, 5and 6. The frame member 62 and the band 58 together form a ring-shapedmember which is of a size to be received in the plane of the rim of apaint can or other container.

The projecting ends GIL-66 of the band 58 are received in recessesformed in the extremities of the U-shaped frame member and are lockedtherein by the provision of transverse elements in the form of rivets 58or the ilke. The plastic body portion 64 may be of the channel shapedconfiguration as shown best in Fig. 6 having a narrow slot 10 in thebase thereof. One end of the body portion is integrally connected to themid-portion of the frame member 62 and projects radially outwardlytherefrom on a level above the band 58 and the frame member 62. so as tooverlie the rim of the paint can. For this purpose the frame member 62is provided with an upwardly projecting portion 12 similar to theportion 38 previously described, The body portion 64 is secured to theframe member in such a manner that its channel opens upwardly and sothat the slot i is disposed immediately over the rim of the paint can inwhich the attachment is mounted.

Carried by the body portion and operating in a manner generally like theshaft 46 of the embodiment of the invention previously described is anelongated member or stem 74 which extends longitudinally through thebody portion and projects from the opposite ends thereof. The operatingmember is jogged intermediate its ends to provide a downwardly dependingU-shaped section 16 which extends through the slot 10 for engaging theinner face of the channel l8 of the paint can rim M. The U-shapedsection may be further bent as shown in Fig. to provide a protuberance18 which engages the rim below the head 2% thereof similar to the shoe 55 of the previously described embodiment of the invention.

The outer end section of the operating member i4 is externally threadedas indicated at 30 and extends through a transverse wall 82 closing theouter end of the channel of the body 64. An aperture 84 is provided inthe end wall 32 for this purpose and it is made slightly oversize thethreaded section 80 of the operating member in order to permitlongitudinal shiftable movement of the member therethrough. Threaded onthe 6 outer extremity'of the operatingmember' is a knob 86 which iscapable of abutting the end wall 82 as shown in Fig. 5. The opposite endsection of the control member 14 extends through an aperture 88 in theelevated portion 12 of the frame member 62. The extension of the U-shaped section 16 through the slot 10 holds the control member 14 fromrotation.

When the knob is rotated in the direction to thread it on the operatingmember it will cause the member to shift outwardly radially of theattachment and bring its U-shaped section 16 into abutting engagementwith the rim 1 4. Upon further rotation of the knob in the samedirection, the U-shaped section will react with the rim of the paint canand force the frame member 62 inwardly toward the center of the paintcan and thereby thrust and expand the flexible band 58 tightly againstthe adjacent portion of the rim.

What I claim is:

1. A pouring attachment for paint cans and the like comprising, incombination, a ringshaped member of asize to be received within the rimof a paint can and lie in the plane thereof, said member having asegmental portion of its perimeter formed of a band of flexible radiallyexpandible material, a. pouring lip secured to said band and conformingto the curvature thereof and being arranged to extend upwardly andoutwardly over the adjacent portion of the rim of a paint can in whichthe ring-shaped member is received, an elongated body secured at one endto the member in diametrically opposite relation to the lip andextending radially outwardly from the member, said body lying in a planeoffset upwardly from that of the ring-shaped member to overlie the rimof a paint can in which the latter is received and project outwardlytherebeyond, a depending element carried by the body and shiftable intoengagement with the rim of a paint can in which the ring-shaped memberis received, and manually controlled means connected to said element andoperable to cause the element to shift into engagement with the rim ofthe paint can and react therewith to expand said lip carrying portion ofthe ring-shaped member into sealing engagement with the rim.

A pouring attachment for paint cans and the like comprising, incombination, a ringshaped member of a size to be received within the rimof a paint can and lie in the plane thereof, said member having asegmental portion of its perimeter constituted by a band of flexibleradially expandible material, a pouring lip secured to said band andconforming to the curvature thereof and being arranged to extendupwardly and outwardly over the adjacent portion of the rim of a paintcan in which the ring-shaped member is received, an elongated bodysecured at one end to the ring-shaped member in diametrically oppositerelation to the mid-portion of the lip, said body being disposed in aplane ofiset upwardly from that of the ring-shaped member and projectingoutwardly therefrom a sumcient distance to overlie and bear upon theadjacent portion of the rim of a paint can in which the ringshapedmember is received, said body having a longitudinal slot in the basethereof, a depending element carried by the body and extending throughsaid slot for engagement with the inside face of the rim of a paint canin which the ringshaped member is received, means mounting said elementfor travel in said slot, and means carried by the body and operable toshift said element into engagement with the inside face of the rimassume;

d 01' the paint can in which the ring-shapedmemher is received and .thusurge the lip-carrying band into sealing engagement with the rim of thepaint can.

3. A pouring attachment for paint cans and the like comprising, incombination, a ring-shaped member of a size to be received within therim of a paint can and lie in the plane thereof, said member having asegmental portion of its perimeter constituted by a band of flexibleradially expandible material, a pouring lip secured to said band andconforming to the curvature thereof and being arranged to extendupwardly and outwardly over the adjacent portion of the rim of a paintcan in which the attachment is received, an elongated body secured atone end to the ringshaped member in diametrically opposite relation tothe mid-portion of the lip, said body being disposed in a plane offsetupwardly and parallel to that of the ring-shaped member. andprojectbythe body and shiftable into engagement with the inside face of the rimof a paint can in which the ring-shaped member is received, a. shaftcarried by the body and operatively connected to said depending element,and a control knob carried by the shaft and adapted upon rotation in onedirection to operate through said shaft and cause the element to shiftinto engagement with the inside face of the rim of a paint can in whichthe ring-shaped member is received and react therewith to thrust thelip-carrying band into sealing engagement with the opposite side of therim.

JOHN W. ALLEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,248,136 Koster Nov. 27, 1917 2,594,858 Bowman Apr. 13, 1952FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 64,133 Denmark Dec. 3, 1945

